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By Mike Anderson, NKU Sports Information RENSSELEAR, Ind. – The Northern Kentucky University baseball team’s 2008 season started with just three wins in its first 11 games, including four losses to nationally ranked opponents. Today, the NKU regular season ended with the Norse winning nine of its last 11 games, including five against ranked opposition, when the Norse swept a doubleheader against No. 14 Saint Joseph’s, going extra innings to take the opener, 6-4, before winning the nightcap, 11-7. The Norse got on the board early in Game 1 when Jon Back led off the game with a double down the left-field line. Back would come around to score when Mike Pericht’s snap-throw pickoff attempt went awry. Two more runs came across for the Norse in the top of the second after Kevin Dusold and Larry Pempek each singled up the middle to put runners at the corners. With senior designated hitter Drew Rushing at the plate, Pempek took off for second. Pericht’s throw again missed the mark, allowing Pempek to reach third and Dusold to score. NKU starter Kevin Jordan would help the runs stand up, going perfect through five innings before the Pumas got on the board in the sixth. After a leadoff walk, the Pumas’ Pat Luehring singled up the middle. Jordan proceeded to plunk the next two batters, bringing a run in to end his shutout bid. Matt Reimer then grounded into what could have been an inning-ending double play, but Reimer just beat out the throw and allowed another run to score and ending Jordan’s day, as NKU coach Todd Asalon went to the bullpen for Matt Winterhalter, who gave up a sacrifice fly to his first batter, tying the game at 3-all. The teams traded nearly identical runs in the seventh, as both NKU and Saint Joseph’s got runners to second before picking up RBI-doubles to end regulation at 4-all. The Norse took the lead in the top of the eighth when Dusold singled home Evan McDole, who doubled to open the inning. Dusold later scored on a fielding error to give the Norse a 6-4 edge. In the bottom half, Winterhalter walked his first batter before striking out the side to preserve the win. Winterhalter (4-2) went 2 2/3 innings in relief with four strikeouts. Jordan also struck out four as the NKU pitching staff scattered just three hits in the victory. Tyler Buhlig (3-2) took the loss for Saint Joseph’s. Game 2 started out very differently, as Ryan Murray cranked out a three-run homer in the bottom of the first as a part of his 3-for-3 performance to set the pace early. The Norse answered with five in the top of the second, as Jason Cisper and Brian Johnson each hit RBI-singles before Pat Muth’s sacrifice fly brought Cisper in. Jake Shaffer and McDole each had RBI base hits to close out the rally. Saint Joseph’s clawed its way back into the lead, scoring two in the third and one in the fourth to take a 6-5 advantage leading into the NKU fifth inning. After Muth was hit by a 1-0 pitch to open the inning, Jake Shaffer doubled to put runners at second and third. Evan McDole loaded the bases when he reached on a misplay by Luehring at first base, bringing on Kevin Dusold, who blasted the first pitch he saw over the left-field wall for a grand slam, his seventh homer of the season. Larry Pempek singled and later scored on another error by Luehring to give NKU a 10-6 edge. Each team took bases-loaded walks to push runs across and finish the game with an 11-7 final score. Brandon Slusher (4-2) got the win in relief, pitching 1 1/3 innings for the starter Eric Braeckel. Sean Munninghoff pitched the final two innings to pick up his first save of the season. Mike Burton (3-2) took the loss for Saint Joseph’s after giving up Dusold’s grand slam. Northern Kentucky (33-21, 21-10 Great Lakes Valley Conference) has won five of its last six, all against ranked opposition, heading into the GLVC Tournament at GCS Ballpark in Sauget, Ill. The Norse are the No. 1 wild-card in the tournament, and will play on Thursday against the No. 1 seed in the East, Bellarmine. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. EDT. |
